Bolt and nut assembling machine



Jan. 15 1924.

T. EYNON BOLT AND `NUT ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed April 23 1921 5 Sheets-sheet 2 Jan. 15 1924.

T. EYNON BOLT AND NUT ASSEMBL'ING MACHINE 5 sheets-sheet s Filed April 23 1921 llllllllllllllll lllrll..

l I l l `Iam. 15 1924.

T. EYNON BOLT AND NUT ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Appli 23, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 /IH 'HIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIA ,IUMHIHIIIIII Jan. 15 1924.

T. EYNON BOLT AND NUT ASSEMBLING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 23 1921 Patented Jan. 15, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS EYNON, OF ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAMS, WHITE & COM- PANY, F MOLINE, ILLINOIS,

A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

BOLT AND NUT ASSEMBLING MACHINE.

Application iled April 23, 1921. Serial No. 464,010.

To all whomz't may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS ErNoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rock Island, in the county of Rock Island and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bolt and Nut Assembling Machines; and I do hereby de- Clare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as 10- will enable others skilled in the art to which it appcrtains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to mechanism for automaticallyl assembling threaded bolts with nuts.

The objects are to improve the organization and improve various elements thereof. The invention consists in the combinations described inthe specification, illustrated in the drawings and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are indicated by like reference chara ters:

F z`ure l 1s a side elevation of a machine em odying my invention adapted to assemble nuts and bolts in a horizontal position;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary end elevation 30 viewed from the rightl of Figures 1 and2;

Figure et is a side elevation. without the bolt run` of a modified form of my improved machine adapted to assemble bolts and nuts in vertical position;

Figure 5 is a plan view -of the machine shown in Figure et;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the bolt conveyer and discharge end of bolt runwayemployed in the machine disclosed in Figures 4 and 5;

Figure 7 isa section throughy the base plate on line 7 7 of Figure 4 showing in elevation the bolt conveyer, bolt stop and nut seat;

Figure 8 is an elevation of the discharge end of the bolt run as seen looking in the' direction of the arrow 8 in Figure 6;

Figure 9 is an elevation of the lower portion of the bolt run as seen looking in the direction of the arrow 9 in Figure 6.

Figures 10 and 11 are, respectively, a longitudinal section and a face view of a bolt chuck or socket carried in the spindle, and adapted to engage and rotate square headed bolts;

" two cam ways l-l and 15.

Fi ures 12 and 13 are, respectively, a 1ongitu inal section and a face view of a bolt socket adapted to engage and rotate round headed bolts.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings, 1 represents the machine base, which may be a casting that supports the operative mechamsm. From the base 1 a plurality of posts or similar suports project upward for the purpose of sustaining and affording bearings for the several shafts of the operating mechanism, and for supporting the hoppers and other necessary parts of the. machine to be later described.

The upward projecting support-s 2, 3 and 4 have alined bearings for the main power shaft 5, while the two supports 3 and 4 project higher than the support 2 and have alined bearings for the longitudinally slidable bolt rotating shaft l6. Upon one extremity of the main power shaft 5, as shown, which preferably projects through the bearing support 2. are fast and 8, with which engages the main driving belt, not shown. Secured to shaft 5 between the uprights 3 and 1 are-small and large gears, 9 and 10, respectively. Rising from the base 1, out of alinement with uprights 2, 3 and 4, is a bearing supportll in which is secured a stub shaft 12 on which is journaled a large gear 13; the gear 13 may be secured to a shaft that turns in said support 11. Upon the front or left hand face of gear wheel 13. as viewed in Figure 2, are Upon the rear or right hand face of said gear 13 is another canrway 16. The said cam ways or cams effect the operations of certain essential mechanisms in proper timing with respect to each other in a manner to be presently described. Splined upon the shaft 6, between the uprights 3 and 4, so that said shaft 6 may'move longitudinally but ,cannot rotate with respect thereto is a pinion 17, spaced from/the uprights by hubs or spacing members 18. The shaft 6 is adapted to advance and simultaneously rotate a bolt b,

and loose pulleys 7 which it is an object of the machine to thread into and assemble with a nut n; and in or- Aby upright as the spindle or shaft 6 advances in contact with the bolt head.

As will be apparent from the mechanism thus far described, when the driving belt is slipped onto the fast pulley shaft 5 will be rotated, and will impart a relatively slow rotation to the large gear 13 which carries the described cams 14, 15 and 16; and the bolt assembling spindle or shaft 6 will be rotated at a relatively high rate of speed, advanced yieldingly, and the associated mechanisms operated in proper time.

In order to receive the bolts and nuts to be assembled, oppositely disposed hoppers 20 and 20A are provided as indicated in Figures 1 and 2. The hopper 20A is designed to receive the nuts which may be guided by gravity down the nut-run 22A to the nut assembling position 22B. This hopper 20A` and nut-run 22A are of known construction and need not be further described. An agitating device (not shown) may be provided if desired for facilitating the delivery of the nuts in a customary manner. The hopper 20 is intended to receive the bolts. The said hopper has double inclined sides 21, rising from a pair of parallel guides 22 which are separated so as to allow the Shanks of the bolts to hang downward between them with the heads of the bolts resting onv Athe guides 22.- Said guides are inclined downward from the hopper toward the position to which the bolts are to be delivered and assembled with the nuts and constitute the bolt run. Both hoppers and runways are suitably sustained supports rising from the base 1 and said supports may be adjustable in height, if desired, by making them extensible as indicated in the upri ht 23 shown in Figure 3. At itslower en the bolt guiding passageway between the bolt guides 22 turns sharply at right angles so as to present a discharge opening toward the gear 13 as illustrated in dotted lines at 24 in Figure 2, the end of outer guide 22 extending at an angle and curving downward as at 22a, and the inner guide terminating short of the curved end of the other so as to permit a bolt to be pushed out of said runway between the end of the inner guide and the outer guide and caused to fall onto receiving devices disposed to catch it whence it is conveyed orv moved to assembling position. In order that the bolt in position to be ejected from the lower end of the bolt runway may not escape accidentally but may be held inthe lower end of the runway until positively ejected,

a yielding or spring held plate 25 is so positioned as to retain the bolt at the bottom of the runway unless the bolt is pushed laterally, said plate then permitting the bolt to escape. The plate 25 may -be supported in any suitable manner, as for example, on the upper end of a bracket 26 secured to the inner or lower end of the nut run-way 22` from which said bracket extends to a point above and rearward of the lower end of the bolt-run.

Each bolt b, as it is ejected from the boltrun, falls upon suitable inclined receivers 27a, 27" on the landing plate 27. The receiver member 27 b is directly beneath the end of the bolt run at one side of the depending end of a bolt so that when said bolt is pushed from the chute its lower end will stop adjacent the member 27", while the head of the bolt will describe an arc about the edge of said receiver and the bolt will be tripped and caused to fall upon receiver members 2Ta and 22'b in the prostrate position shown in Figures 1 and 2. A suitable abutment plate 28 is so positioned as to engage the head of the prostrate bolt and substantially determine its position longitudinally. The plate 28 is shown as moiuited on the end of a bracket arm 29, which may be adjustable if desired.

In order to eject a bolt from the lower end of the bolt runway at the proper moment with respect to the general timing of the mechanism an ejector arm or plunger 30 is provided, the said ejector being so disposed and operated that when it moves to the left (as shown in Figures .1 and 2) the endotl the ejector will push a bolt to the left with force enough to displace the spring retaining-plate 25 and cause a bolt to trip over the member 27h. The said ejector 30 is attached in any suitable manner to the upper end of a lever 31, pivoted to fulcrum lu 32 on the base 1. The lever 31 is operated by a link rod 33 which is passed'loosely through a hole near the upper end of the lever and carries a coil spring 34 between the lever and a nut or head 35 on the end of the rod. The other end of link rod 33 is connected to a lever ai'iii 3G that is keyed to rock shaft 37 jou-rnaled transversely of the base 1 in bearing standard 3 and a bearing lug 38. To one end of rock shaft 37 is ixed an arm 39 which is urged upward by a spring 41),.in order to force the bearing roller 41 on the arm 42, secured to the other end ot' the rock shaft, into yielding contact with the aforesaid cam 14 on the left hand face of gear 13, as viewed yin Figure 2. By means of .the ejector operating mechanism described the ejector movementwill be properadvance, and no harm can result to the mechanism. The spring 40 restores the ejector. and holds the roller 41 against-the cam.

The prostrate bolt is conveyed to assembling position by the means now to be described. The receiver members 27al and 27b on the landing plate for the prostrate bolt incline inward toward the spindle or shaft 6. In order that the bolt may move to assembling position at the proper moment, two pins 42, 42", secured to a rock shaft 42 are erected in position alongside the bolt when the latter falls to the receivers. At the proper time in relation to the movements of the other parts of the machine, shaft 42 is rocked so as to turn pins 42a, 42b out of 'the way and allow the bolt to roll or be conveyed by gravity from the receiver members 27, 27b to bolt holdin devices to be presently described. The s aft 42 is suitably journaled in bearings 43 connected to landing plate 27. A crank arm 44 secured to one end of rock shaft 42 is connected by a link 45 to an arm 46 rigid on rock shaft 4 7, which is journaled transversely of the base 1 in bearing supports 4 and 11. Secured fixedly to rock shaft 47 is a crank arm 48 having a cam end 49 in the path of cam 16. 'lo the end of rock shaft 47 that projects through the bearing support 4 is secured a rigid crank arm 50, and this arm is pressed upwardly by a spring 51 resting on a lug 52, as shown in Figure 1, in such manner that rock shaft 47 is rocked by the spring and keeps the cam end 49 of crank arm 48 pressed against cam 16. Autolnatically` therefore, the bolt on receivers 27a, 27b will beA released and roll or slide therefrom to the bolt catchingdevices now to be described.

Journaled in bearing uprights 52553, is a pair of parallel rock shafts 54 to each of which are secured two spaced apart arms 55,

' 56. there being an arm 55 and an arm 56 on one rockshaft facing an arm 55 and 56..y respectively, on the other rock shaft. The upper ends of said arms are beveled, as at 56a, so that when the upper portions of the armsare in contact with the upper portions of companion arms two V-shaped bolt alining rests are formed, adapted to receive la bolt discharged from thevreceivers 27a.

27b and aline it with the nut seat and spindle-6. The V-shaped rests are disposed at a lower level than the receivers 27a. 27b and rock vshaft 42, so that when said rock shaft 42` turns, lowering the pins 42a, 42h, the bolt will be guided onto Vthe V-shaped rests between the -arins 55 and 56. The rock shafts 54 are connected to a common operating means so that lwhen one rocksthe other will rock in unison in the opposite direction. One of said shafts 54 carries an arm 57 which isconnected by a link 58 to arm 50 aforesaid von rock shaft 47, described as being operated positively in one direction by the cam 16 and in the opposite direction by the spring 51. The other shaft 54 is preferably connected .to- Said rock shaft 47 by a duplicate mechanism. When the assembling operation is completed, the timing of the mechanism is such that the arms 55,

.ingl'y, as by forming four grooves to catch 56 separate and allow the assembled bolt and nut to drop between them into a chute, such as 59, down which theyslide to a receptacle or any place of deposit.

Two forms of chuck or bolt rotating members referred to hereinbefore as mounted at the end of sliding and rotating shaft orv spindle 6 are illustrated in Figures 10 to 13. The bolt rotating member illustrated in Figures 12 and 13 comprises a head 60 hav- I ing a tapered opening 61 to easily find and center a bolt head in the axial line of the spindle. The shank 62 is externally threaded as at 62a or otherwise adaptedv to be secured in a hole made in the end of the shaft or spindle 6. The shank 62 is drilled from end to end and houses a coiled spring 63` one end of which rests against plug 64 inserted after assembling the spring. Inthe front end of the hollow shank is a shoulder 65. A plunger 66, having a rear stop flange 67, is pressed elastically forward by spring 63. In case the chuck is' to engage round headed bolts sharp edged biting ribs (which may be steel inserts) 68, preferably three, are formed in the tapering cavity 61 and a cup-like seat formed in theend of plunger 66. If square headed bolts are to be seized the tapered cavity may be modified accordthe corners of the head as it moves rearward into the tapered cavity of the chuck in head a, as illustrated at68a in Figures 10 and 11. The forward end of the shaft or spindle 6 is equipped with a chuck of the type described and when a bolt rests in the V-shaped seats between the supporting arms 55-56 it will be alined with said chuck in the end of spindle 6. When the spindle advances and exerts pressure against the bolt. head the latter wllbe gripped and compelled to rotate. 1When the spindle is retracted the spring-pressed plunger will release thebolt from the socket automatically. On-the rear end of shaft or spindle 6 is a Shifter collar 70, engaged by a 'Shifter lever 71, which, in the form shown, has a large orifice admitting passage of the shaft 5 and is secured to rock shaft 72- journaled in the bearing lugs 73 and 74. the other end of rock shaft 72 is an arm 75, having a substantially horizontally extenti-V ing upper portion carrying a roller 76 that rests against the cam 15, Aand is held elastically in cam-engaging position by a spring 77.` As a result, when the mechanism is in operation the spindle 6 will be forced forward by the spring7 7 yieldingly so that the bolt chuck-will engage the. bolt head, the spindle at thesame time rotating. The bolt will therefore be seized and advanced until the threaded end thereof engages the. nut. and is screwed into the latter. After this the spindle will be retracted by the posi-l tive actio'njof the cam 15, leaving the as- Secured to l i sembledl bolt and nut in position on the V-shaped rests with the nut in the seat 22B at the end of the nut runway 22A.

'Alined with the nut seat 22B at the end of runway 22A is a guide 78 in which moves a plunger 79, adapted to push the assembled bolt vand nut to the left (as shown in Figure 2) in order to clear them from the nut seat so that they may drop between the arms 55,

' o erate without. dangero-'f breaking any pa ts. Rody is connected to a lever arm 84, adjustable in length if desired, to vary the amplitude of movement of the plunger 79. Arm 84 is rigidly secured to a. roc-k shaft 85 journaled in bearing upright 3.`

Secured to said rock shaft is a cam-arm 86 the. end of which is disposed to rest against cam 15, and a spring 87 connected to arm 84, urges the cam-arm 86, against said cam, and serves to restore .plunger 79 to its rearward position after the cam 15 has positively moved the rod 80 to the left (as shown in Figures 1 land 2) to eject the assembled bolt and nut. The arms 553-56, having separated, the assembled bolt and nut fall between the separated arms into the chute 59 and are collected beneath the disz-harge end of said chute.

The form of the invention illustra-ted in. Figures 4 to 9, inclusive, is adapted for use` in assembling bolts and nuts where the bolts' are too longto trip, properly, from the bolt runway of themechanism illustrated in Figures 1. 2 and 3. and with those bolts that have odd-shaped heads that will not slide well on the bolt run or guide. In case. bolts with heads that will not slide properly on the runs are to be handled. the bolt hopper and bolt run of the modified mechanism now to be described may be removed and the' end of which projects beyond post 102 and carries fast and loosepulleys 105 and 106. Bearing post 103 is higher than post 102 and has a second bearing above that of shaft 104, which may be a stub shaft or trunnion on which are sleeved a pinion 107 and a gear wheel 108 rigidly connected to said pinion, or may be a hollow bearing supporting an axleprojecting from the center of said pinion and gear wheel. On the end of shaft 104 that projects through t-he bearing post 103 is secured a pinion 109, arranged in mesh with the gear 108 whereby said gear 108 and pinion 107 may be rotated in unison by the main power shaft 104. Pinion 107 is in mesh with a gear 110 secured to a shaft 111 journaled in bearing supports 112 and 113 rising from the base 101. The end of shaft 111 that is opposite that carrying gear 110 is provided with a crank 114, to which is pivoted one end of a link 115 the other end of which is connected to the nut hopper mechanism in order to facilitate the feed of the nuts from hopper 116 through the nut run or guide 116'. The nut hopper and operating mechanism is of kno-wn construction and need not be further described. Fixed to one face of said gear 108 is a cam 117 for a purr-ose to be presently explained.

Bolted to thebase 101 and extending up- '-11 ward therefrom is a hollow and slotted column 118. Two spindle bearing arms 119 project horizontally from one face of said column., Said arms have alined bearings for a bolt rotating spindle 120 which is provided at its lower end with one of the bolt engaging sockets illustrated in Figures 10 to 13.

- said shaft 104: said belt passing over two idle`r pulleys 124, supported -by a-bracket 125 pivoted" at 126 between two lugs 127 on the post 103, whereby the direction is changed as illustrated. The said belt may be tightened by adjusting' the bracket 125, by means of screws 128 threaded through the bracket and bearing upon the upper end of the post. The belt drive described, comprising the relatively small pulley 12'1, rotates the spindle 120 with a yieldable friction drive. If the spindle encounters great resistance, as in the case of imperfect threads on bolt or nut, or too small a hole in the nut, the belt will slip on pulley 121, the other parts of the machine go on operating and the imperfect bolt. and nut be ejected as will later appear.

The cam 117, before mentioned, is a part of the mechanism for reciprocating spindle 120. Secured to the upper end of said spindle is a grooved collar 129. A bell crank Said spindle is adapted to be v moved downward yieldinglv while rotating in order to advance and rotate a bolt for the lever 130 pivoted at 130 to column 118 has a. forked end 131 provided with studs 132 for engaging in the groove of collar 129, whereby up and down movement of the forked end of lever 130 will impart up and down movement to spindle 120. On the side of column 118 that is adjacent the wheel 108 and cam 117 is a slide bearing 133 the sides of which are slotted at 134. lSlida-bly mounted in said slide bearing is a slidable member- 135, the inner end of which is pivoted to the lower end of bell crank lever 130 as indicated in dotted lines at 136. The other end of slide 135 carriesa roller 137 pivoted in a slot in the slide which registers with the slots 134 f sleeve 140 splined to an upright spindle 140a rotatably mounted in bracket 140b bolted to the base 101 adjacent the foot of column 118;' The said arm 139 extends outward and f downward and has projecting laterally from its outer end a block 141 having al V-shaped notch 142 adapted to engage and center the shank of a bolt. Secured to the under side of block 141 is a slotted plate 143 the sides of which project slightly beyond said block. Thisplate 143 is for'the purpose of v engagingover the nut with which said bolt is to be assembled and holding said nut down squarely on its seat while the centering pin to be hereafter described engages said nut. and the end of the bolt enters it. The 'end of arm 139 is perforated to receive a pin 144 which may be held in adjusted position in the perforation by a set screw 145. A block 146 is detachably secured to pin 144 by set screw 147, and may be raised or lowered with respect tothe arm 139 by adjusting the pin 144, in order to adapt the carrier to vbolts of different lengths; and if-eXtra long bolts are being assembled a longer pin 144 may be secured to saidv block 146. Hinged to the upper part of block 146 isa bolt receiving or landing plate 148. The outer end of landing plate 148 is notched at 149 to engage t-he shank of a bolt beneath the head thereof and allow the head to rest upon the upper surface of said plate. The inner end of the landing plate has two spaced ears 150, one on 'each side of the upper part of vblock 146. A hinge pin 151 passes through the ears 156 and the block 146, thus forming a horizontal pivotal connection between the landing plate and block. A lug 152 projecting from the block 146 Abeneath plate 148 supports a coiled spring 153, which presses said plate yieldingly upward and allows the bolt to advance when it is engaged by the socket on advancing and rotating spindle 120 so that it may be screwed into the nut fn, with which it is to be assembled. A bolt b may be placed in the conveyer. either automatically or by hand, the head of the bolt resting on the outer end of landing plate 148, and its shank being steadied by the notch 149 in said plate and the V-shaped notch 142 in block 141.

Rising from the base 101 is a support 154 for a bolt positioning stop or anvil 155 adjustabletherein, one end of said stop being 'So -positioned that the conveyer will move the shank of the. bolt against the stop to aline the bolt with the spindle 120 and the center of the nut n with which it is to be assembled. The V-block 141 of the carrier and the end of the stop 155 are in such relation that the center of the stop comes opposite the center of the V-notchin the block 141 when the conveyer carries the bolt into contact with the end of the stop. The spindle 120 when advancing pushes the rotating bolt into engagement with the nut, the V-block 141 and stop 155 lkeeping' the bolt in exact alinement.

The means for oscillating the bolt conveyer arm 139 comprises the arm 156 secured to spindle 140a and connected by a in and slot connection 157 to one end of) a slide 158, the other end'of which is similarly connected to a transmitting member 159 within the column 118; a slide 161 connected to said member 159, said slide carrying at its other end a roller 163 disposed in the path of a cam 164 on the gear wheel 108; and a compressionspring 165 tending to push the member 159 in 'such a directionas to keep the roller 163- against the cam and urge the bolt conveying arm 139 toward the stop or anvil 155. By this mechanism the bolt4 b will be moved laterally yieldingly into alinement with the spindle 120, so that no harm can result by reason of any obstruction during the operation of moving a bolt into position to be assembled.

The nuts n. to be assembledwith the bolts slide down the nut run 116all in succession under the influence of gravity, the foremost nut coming to rest in the nut seat 166 at the lower end of the nut run directly beneath the lower end of spindle120, the sides of the nut seat being formed to lit the nut loosely but in such mjanner as to prevent it from being rotated by the bolt in the assembling'l The bottom of the nut seat166 y A167 for guiding a tape-reend nut centering pin 168, which moves upward after a nut has reached the seat, the taper end entering a hole in .th'nut and 'centering it. The axis vino of the centering pin is in the extension of the axis of spindle 120, and all properly punched and threaded nuts, even if the threaded hole is eccentric to the body, will thereby be brought with their threaded holes into alinement with the threaded end of the bolt to be assembled. The centering pin is operated by aniarm 169 secured to one end of ay rock shaft 170 extending, as shown, 'substantially parallel with the main shaft 104, under the base plate 101, and sustained by suitable bearings 171. v Secured to the opposite end of rock shaft 170 is an arm 172, to which a vertical link or slide 173 is connected, said link or slide being guided by the bearing in the base plate 101 and normally held elevated by a spring 174 disposed between the upper surface of the base 101 and an adjustable collar 175, secured to said link or slide. Thus the spring 174 functions to draw the centering pin 168 downward out of nut engaging position. A sleeve 176 forms a telescoping extension of the link, and carries at its upper end a contact member 177 disposed so as to be engaged by a tappet or cam 17 8 on the Jface of gear 108. Within the sleeve 176 is housed a coil spring 179, of a resistance to compression that is greater than that of spring 174, said spring 179 having one end in contact with the upper end of slide 173 and its other end in engagement with a' seat in the upper portion of vsleeve 176. A pin and slot connection 180 limits the extent of possible sliding movement between the slide 17 3 and the telescoping'sleeve 176. Contact of cam or tappet 178 with contact member 177 will normallyv positively advance the centering pin 168 to center a nut in correct time relation with respect to other operations of the mechanism. Should the end of the pin 168 encounter an unpunched blank or an excessively distorted nut so that the centering vpin meets a solid obstruction, owing to the fact that nut holding plate 143 is then above the nut the spring 179 would yield and the machine continue `its operation unharmed;

After a bolt and nut have been assembled and the spindle 120 has retreated from engagement with the bolt head, a plunger 181 engages the bolt just underneath thelanding plate 148 and pushes the assembled nut and bolt from assembling position making way for another pair to be assembled. The plunger 181 is suitably guided so as to move in a direction parallel with the main shaft 104 and'bolt conveyer operating arm 158. Said plunger is engaged by the lower end of'a lever 182 of the third order fulcrumed at 183 on one of the arms 119 that Fguide the spindle 120. A link 184 has one end pivoted to the lever 182 at 185 and the other end pivoted to a slide 186 which carries a roller 187 disposed normally inthe path of :1 ca'm 188 on the face of gear 108. The roller 187 is maintained yieldably in contactwith cam 188 by a coil spring 189, one end of which is connected to lever 182, andthe other to the column 118. As a result of this connec'tion an assembled bolt and nut will be positively ejected at the proper instant.,

It has thus far been assumed that the bolt -may be placed in the bolt conveyer by hand parts of the mechanism illustrated in Fig-A ures 1, 2 and 3. The lower end bt the bolt run 190 is shown in Figures 5, 6, 8 and 9. The said run is steeply pitched so-that the bolts will readily slide downward suspended by their heads on the spaced members of ,theI runway. The lower end of the runway turns sharply at right angles curving horizontally and downward, presenting its discharge end 191 opposite the notch 149 in the landing plate 148, so that bolts may be delivered from the runway to the landing plate with their shanks in the notch 149 and the under sides of their heads resting on top of said landing plate. est boltl in the run 190 into the said angular discharge portion an ejector 192 is placed in position and operated at the proper instant to strike the shank of the bolt a little beneath the runway and push it into the angularly directed guide toward the discharge end 191. 'to one end of a plate 193 the other end of which is sleeved over a rod 194 the extremity of which is provided with a head or nut (not shown) between which and the plate a coiled compression spring 195 surrounds the rod 194, precisely as shown 1n the form of the invention disclosed' 1n Figures 'land z, and

for the same purpose, namely, to eject the\ lowermost bolt with a yielding thrust so that the machine will not be injured in case the ejector meets with abnormal resistance. In the present embodiment the other end of rod 194 is pivoted to lever 1.96 fulcrumed between its ends to 'the column 118 at 1962 and having its upper end pivoted to a link 197 which is connected to a .lever 198, pivoted at 199 tora bearing bracket 200 projecting from column 118, and carrying a roller 201 at its upper end arranged to be engaged by the cam 117 so that the operation of the plunger to eject the bolt from the runway will take place after the retraction of the spindle 120 by the operation of said cam. The advance of the ejector -is positively effec'ted by the cam 117 except as modified by the compression spring 195 when the plunger meets abnormal obstruction. A com- The ejector 192 is secured' In order to eject the lowiev pression spring 202 causes the roller 201 to y'move into the path of cam 117 and the plunger 192 to retract.

Having described my invention in such manner as to enable those skilled in the art to which it. appertains to make and use the same, what I claim and -desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: 1. In mechanism ofthe class described, a bolt rotat-ing device having a bolt head receiving socket provided with ribs diverging forward at such an angle as to bite into the side of a bolt head and hold it from rotating With respect to said socket.

2. In mechanism of the class described, a bolt rotating device having an outward flaring conical socket provided with divergent biting ribs for engaging the side of a bolt head, and a central spring-pressed plunger provided with a cup-'like seat in its end for engaging a round bolt head seated in said socket, the end of said plunger being normally projected beyond the front of the socket.

3. In mechanism of the class described, a longitudinally movable and rotatable spindle having a bolt engaging means at one end, means for advancing said spindlewith a yieldable pressure, means for rotating said spindle simultaneously with its longitudinal movement, and means for positively retracting said spindle.

4. In mechanism of the class described, a `longitudinally movable and rotatable spindle having a bolt engaging means at one end,

means for causing said spindle to advance with a yielding pressure, means for positively retracting said spindle, and frictional driving means for rotating said'spindle.

5. In mechanism of the class described, a

Vlongitudinally movable and rotatable spindle having a bolt engaging means atone end,

means for rotating said spindle, a lever for moving said spindle longitudinally, means exerting a yielding pressure upon the lever to moveit in a direction to advance the spindle, and a cam arranged to operate the lever ,so as to Withdraw the spindlepositively.

6. In mechanism of the class described, a base, an upright column, a vertical spindle supported by said column, a friction pulley Splined to said spindle, a lever fulcruined on said column adapted to move said spindle longitudinally, a main driving shaft, a cam driven from ,said main driving shaft, means arranged to engage the cam for operating the lever to retract said spindle, a device exerting a yielding pressure upon said lever to advance said spindle and maintain the lever in operative relation to the cam, and a means for rotating the spindle.

7. In mechanism of theclass described, a base, a column rising therefrom, an upright spindle supportedby said column, a horizontal power shaft, a cam operated thereby, a bell crank lever pivoted in the column for moving said spindle longitudinally, connections t'rom said lever to engage said cam for retracting the spindle, a spring acting-'upon said lever to advance the spindle and keep the lever in operative relation to the cam, a, pulley splined on said spindle so that the latter may slide therethrough, a pulley on the main power shaft, idle pulleys, and a belt passing over said idle pulleys arranged to transmit motion from the main power shaft to the spindle.

8. In mechanism of the class described, a

'nut seat adapted to hold a nut loosely but prevent it from being rotated, a centering pin adapted to be projected into said seat, a bolt rotating means axially alined with said centering pin, and means for effecting an approach between the. bolt rotating means and the nut seat.

9. In mechanism of the class described, a movable centering device for centering a nut, mechanism for advancing said centering device to engage and center the nut, and a yieldable connection in said mechanism.

10. In mechanism of the class described, means for holding two elements consisting of a; bolt and nut in axial alinement, said means comprising a seat yieldable axially of the bolt and means for rotating said elements relatively to eachother. means for advancing said rotating means into engagement with the elements to be rotated in order to screw said elements together, and means for reti-acting said rotating element after the bolt and nut have been assembled.

11. In mechanism of the class described, a socket adapted to hold a nut and prevent it from rotating, a bolt holder comprising means for holding a bolt in axial alinement with said nut, said bolt holder having a bolt sustaining member yieldable toward the nut socket, and a bolt rotating means arranged toV advance along the axial line of a bolt and nut held in.. said 'socket and holder to engage the head of said bolt and screw it into the nut, and means for retracting said bolt rotating means.

l2.l In mechanism of the class described, a movable device for centering a nut, means for operating said device comprising a positive actuator, transmission means therefrom to the centering device, said transmission means including a' spring adapted to yield in case the centering devicemeets with abnormal obstruction.

13. In mechanism of the class described, a movable device for centering a nut, means for operating said device comprising a posinormal obstruction, and a yieldable pressure device adapted to restore the centering device to its inoperative position.

14. In mechanism of the class described, a movable device adapted to center a nut, a cam; a device in the path of the cam comprising a telescoping slide and a spring tending to elongate said slide; and a rock shaft connecting said slide and said centering device.

15. In mechanism of the class described, a nut seat adapted t0 hold a nut horizontally, a centering pin adapted to move upward into said seat in order to center a nut, a rock shaft for operating said centering pin, a slide for operating said rock shaft, said slide having telescoping members and a spring adapted to elongate them, cam mechanism adapted to move the slide and elevate the centering pin, and a spring tending to press said slide into the path of the cam and retract the centering pm.

16. In mechanism` of the class described, an ejector mechanism and operating means therefor comprising a yieldable connection, and mechanism for positively actuating the operating means to effect the ejecting operation.

17. In mechanism of the class described, a bolt runway adapted to convey bolts by gravity .with their shanks depending; an ejector adapted and arranged to push a bolt from -the lower end4 0f said runway, means for actuating the ejector to push the bolt from said runway, said means. comprising a yieldable connection adapted to yield in case the ejector meets with abnormal obstruction.

18. In mechanism of the class described. an inclined runway comprising a slotted guide adapted to hold bolts suspended by their heads, said runway having a discharge opening at right angles to its general direction, and an ejector adapted and arranged to push a bolt laterally through said discharge opening. f

19. In mechanism of the class described, an inclined runway comprising a slotted guide adapted to hold bolts suspended by their heads, said runway having a discharge opening at right angles to its general direction, a plunger adapted to engage the bolt beneath the runway at the discharge end and eject the bolt therefrom, a plate connected to said plunger, a rod, freely slidable through the plate, and an elastic connection between said rod and said plate, and means for positively actuating said rod for moving the plunger against the bolt to eject it.

20. In mechanism of the classtdescribed, a bolt conveyer adapted to move a bolt from receiving to assembling position, and then return; said conveyer comprising a device havin a yieldable notched member adapted to em race the shank and support the head of a bolt, and a notched block adapted to engage and cent-er the shank of the bolt, a

stop device disposed in the path of movement of said notched block, and a yieldable pressure means for moving the conveyer from the receiving position to bring the shank of a bolt against the said stop.

21. In mechanism ofthe class described, a bolt conveyer movable from receiving to assembling position and 'comprising alined bolt holding and'centering devices adjustable to and from each other to adapt the conveyer for different lengths of bolts.

22. In mechanism of the class described, a bolt conveyer comprising an arm having a V-block projecting laterally therefrom, and a vertically adjustable downward yieldable notched landing plate adapted to support the bolt by its head with its shank in engagement with said V-block.

23. In mechanism of the class described, a conveyer arm having an offset V-block adapted to center the shank of a bolt, said arm having a perforation, a pin adjustable in said perforation, and a vertically yieldable landing plate connected to said adjustable pin above said V-block.

24. In mechanism of the class described, a bolt conveyer member carrying a V-block adapted to center the shank of a bolt, said member having aperforation, a pin adjustable in said perforation, and a member having a bolt head sustaining means detachably connected to saidv pin.

25. In mechanism of the class described,

loo

a bolt conveyer device carrying a V-block adapted to center the shank of a bolt and a bolt head supporting member pivoted to the conveyer device and having a bolt seat alined with said notch; and a spring tending to move the free end of said bolt head supporting member away from the V-block.

26. In mechanism .of the class described, a bolt conveyer adapted to move a bolt laterally to assembling position, a stop arranged to engage the shank of the bolt and center it in assembling position.

27. In mechanism of the class described, a bolt conveyer adapted to move a bolt laterally from receiving to assembling position, a stop, means tending to move the conveyer yieldingly to bring the bolt against said stop, and means adapted positively to lreturn the conveyer to initial position.

28. In mechanism of the class described, means to hold a nut loosely but' prevent it from rotating, a bolt conveyer adapted to move a bolt laterally into alinement with a nut on said nut holder, said bolt conveyer being adapted to move in a direction of the axis of the bolt resting therein permit the bolt to be advanced into contact with the nut, means for rotating and advancing the bolt to assemble it with the nut, and a device on the conveyer adapted to hold the nut to its Iza ancona? seat until the end of theL bolt has entered the nut.

29. ln mechanism of the class described, the combination of Y'a nut holder, a longitudinally movable and rotary spindle in axial alinement with the nut holder, said spindle rotate a bolt when p-ressed against it and to automatically release the bolt when retracted, means for holding a bolt in axial alinement with said spindle and said nut holder, and an ejector device operating in timed relation with the spindle to eject the assembled .nut and bolt laterally after retraction of the spindle.

3l. ln mechanism of the class described, the combination of a nut holder and nut centering device, of an upright longitudinally movable and rotatable spindle in axial alinement with the nut centering device, a bolt holder adapted to center a bolt in the axial line of the spindle and nut centering device; means for rotating and advancing the spindle so as to engage the bolt head and subsequently retract said spindle and release it from the bolt, and an ejector mechanism arranged to operate after the retraction of the spindle for ejecting the assembled nut and bolt laterally.

32. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a bolt run, of means for` removing bolts one by one from the discharge end of said bolt run; a longitudinally movable and rotatable spindle, a nut holder in line therewith, and means' for receiving a bolt removed from the bolt run and moving it into axial alinement with the spindle and nut holder said means having a bolt head engaging member yieldable in the direction of the bolt axis whereby the advancing spindle may sieze the bolt head and assemble said nut and bolt.

33. In mechanism of the class described having a bolt rotating means, a bolt runsaid co-nveyer having a yielding notchedv landing plate adapted to receive and sustain the bolt in an upright position by its head.

34.-. lllhe combination of a gravity bolt run, a nut holder and a bolt rotating means; a bolt conveyer movable from a position in juxtaposition to the discharge end of the bolt run to a position in which the bolt s alined with said nut holder and bolt rotating means, said conveyer having a notched landing plate pressed upward by a spring and a centering guide beneath the landing plate whereby the bolts may be centered, and means for moving said conveying means back and forth between the receiving position and the assembling position.

35. ln mechanism of the class described, a. nut holder, a bolt rotating means, a. centering device adapted to center the nut into line; with the axis of the bolt, and a movable member adapted to engage over the nut during the centering movement of the centering device.

36. ln mechanism of the class described, a nut holder, a nut centering device, a bolt rotating device, a bolt conveyor adapted to move a bolt into line between the nutl holder and bolt rotating device, and a member a nut holder, a nut centering device, a bolt rotating spindle in line therewith, an oscillatory conveyor adapted to move a bolt laterally into line between the bolt rotating spindle and the centering device, said conveyer having a divided member extending each yside of the bolt shank and adapted to engage over the nut during the centering movement of the centeringkdevice. A

38. In mechanism of the class described,

a nut holder, a centering pin, a member adapted to'engage over the nut durin the centering operation, and means for a vancing the centering pin with a yielding pressure to center the nut.

In testimony whereof I aiiix m si THOMAS ature, ON. 

